AC Compressor Rar Mount Question

[Joey41]

Does anyone know if the ac compressor is flush against the rear mount?

I ask because the folks that replaced my compressor years ago did not put the rear mount bolts back in and I have been breaking the front mount that holds the compressor. I have now bought the bolts from the dealer and went to put them in, but I see about a 1/4-1/2" gap from the back of the compressor to where the mount is. This seems strange/wrong to me. I would think that the compressor and mount should be flush against one another. I am starting to think they did not put in the correct compressor... ANy help is greatly appreciated.

[Joey41]

Re: AC Compressor Rar Mount Question

Also it's a 1997 Camaro V6 3800

[96RS Alex]

Re: AC Compressor Rar Mount Question

Hi Joey, youre right, the AC compressor should sit flush with the rear mounting bracket. There are two bolts that bolt onto the rear mount definitely.

The front three bolts for the front compressor should be finger tightened a bit before you torque down the rear two, that's what I'd do first. As for that visual gap as you described, yes the tight confines behind that compressor area would most likely cause someone to give up and call it a day therefore giving you this problem.

Do this job right once. Just loosen the fronts, then attack the rear bolts then torque down the front three, that should do it. Then slap on your serpentine belt and check for any pulley misalignment before you start the engine.

It's obvious how the front compressor mount would break due to the tensioned belt probably yanking the compressor in various angles during operation.

As for your assumption whether you have the correct AC compressor, here's a side by side comparison pic of the old vs new I recently swapped. I hope this helps for now.

[Joey41]

Re: AC Compressor Rar Mount Question

Thanks for your response and the pictures. It is sounding to me that they did not give me the correct compressor since I have such a gap in the back. So it looks like I will go and ask them to redo the job with the correct compressor which I am sure they will give me the run around on... This has been a HUGE problem for years now, it was only recently I found out there were no bolts holding the rear mount. Still waiting on the rear bolts from the dealer, they are on backorder...

[96RS Alex]

Re: AC Compressor Rar Mount Question

If you have a junkyard or a pick & pull as others would call it, I'd call first to see if some local junk dealers already pulled an old compressor out from a 3.8L motor and stick the original bolts in the compressor housing to make a complete set.

As an additional source, I'm pretty sure the obsolete Pontiac Grand Prix transverse mounted 3800 engine family used the same compressors identical to ours. Maybe someone else could chime in on that.

Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.

[Joey41]

Re: AC Compressor Rar Mount Question

Brought my crappy shoes to work with me, planning on hitting up some junkyards at lunch to try my luck.

[ssms5411]

Re: AC Compressor Rar Mount Question

You could have looked up the bolt thread and pitch from 93-02 Camaro manuals which is free on Z28.com then go to the hard ware store and find the correct bolts, I have done this all the time when replacing torx bit bolts with reg. bolt heads. If your the original owhner and had it repalced at a GM dalership then youll have a lifetime warrranty on the parts and labor through GM Goodwrench lifetime warranty program. I have had 3 -4 compresssors put in for free, 5 Alt. , 4 water pumps and 2 starters for my 96' Camaro. Just have to keep the reciepts which will have a * located on the part they replace meaning its a lifetime warranty part.

[Joey41]

Re: AC Compressor Rar Mount Question

I was trying to figure out where to just get the bolt info from, thanks! I am going to get the info and go buy the bolts from the hardware store today.

Unfortunately I did not get the compressor replaced at a dealership. I went to a local shop who had always done well until discovering this current issue. It sure would be nice to have a warranty for life on it.

[Joey41]

Re: AC Compressor Rar Mount Question

Well here is an update to my situation here...

It seems that the rear mount is only held onto the engine by one bolt which had allowed my rear mount to move a bit and appear to be away from the compressor. The guy at the shop who did my ac repair simply moved the mount back to where it was suppose to be be and everything worked out. We got the bolts back in and tightened everything up so hopefully this should take care of it.

Of course they wanted to tell me the bolts rattled themselves out or were never there.... Whatever, the guy who did it 3 years ago just didn't put them in. Once I explained my thoughts, they got me fixed up of course free of charge.

I could not get a replacement ac bracket from GM, they are still searching for me but there does not seem to be any in the US. We welded my broken bracket back together.